Registration device for wrapping machines



Sept. 23, 1952 1". JENSEN 2,611,224

REGISTRATION DEVICE FOR WRAPPING MACHINES Filed July 1. 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR THORMOD JENSEN ATTORNEY Sept. 23, 1952 T. JENSEN REGISTRATION DEVICE FOR WRAPPING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 1, 1947 INVENTOR BYTHORMOD. JENSEN ATTORNEY Sept. 23, 1952 'r. JENSEN REGISTRATION DEVICE FOR WRAPPING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 1, 1947 FIG. 3

INVENTOR THORMOD JENSEN ATTORNEY Sept. 23, 1952 'r. JENSEN REGISTRATION DEVICE FOR WRAPPING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 1, 1947 FIG. 5

FIG. 6

N E S m V. J R M m R NO. 0 M m 0 H T Patented Sept. 23, 1952 REGISTRATION DEVICE FOR WRAPPIN MACHINES Thormod Jensen, Laurelton, N. Y., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application July 1, 1947, Serial No. 758,417

13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to wrapping machines, more particularly to wrapping machines equipped with web registering devices for maintaining the printed panel or other printed matter on the wrapping material in a predetermined position on one of the faces of the article about which the wrapping material is folded.

Heretofore in wrapping machines of the type wherein an article was enfolded in the leading and of a Web of wrapping material prior to severance of the required length of wrapper from the web it was not possible, particularly when wrapping articles of non-uniform girth such as bread loaves, to apply the wrapper to the article in such a manner that the printed matter would appear in the desired position on the'top or other face of the article. Therefore one of the main objects of this invention is to equip this type of Wrapping machine with web registering device which will obtain the desired position of the printed matter on one of the faces of the wrapped article.

For this purpose the web of wrapping material may be provided with a series of equally spaced indicia such as printed spots having a predetermined relationship to the printed labels or other printed matter on the web. Any suitable type of web registering device may be employed to locate each of said spots successively in a predetermined position following the severance from the web of the portion of the leading end of the web enfolding an article. Thus although variations in the girth of the article will cause the line of out along which the wrapper is separated from the web to be nearer or further from the next printed spot on the web, variations in the position of the printed matter with respect to the article to be enfolded in the wrapping material will be avoided. A further object of the invention, accordingly, is to provide web registering devices which will locate the printed matter in a predetermined position prior to the enfoldment of articles varying in girth in the leading end of the web of wrapping material.

If desired, the position of the cut edge of the web may be further corrected in accordance with variations in the height of the article to be wrapped. A suitable device for this purpose may include a, feeler engaging the top of the article and instrumentalities connected to said feeler and operated by displacement of the feeler resulting from variations in the height of the article engaging the feeler, to retract the web relative to the article about which it is to be wrapped. Thus the desired position of the printed matter 2 on the article will be assuredfor articles of varying height.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in-view the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations hereinafter fullydescribed and set forth in the appendedform of the web registering device shown in Fi 2; a

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the web registering device shown in Fig. 1 associated with mechanism for varying the position of' the web of wrapping material in accordance with variations in the height of the article to be wrapped; and

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the same taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, which will now be described, the web of wrapping material is overfed and then retracted to the desired position. A lifter table H! which may be of the general type disclosed in my prior Patent 2,385,706 is provided with a back tension plate l I and a top tension plate lDa supported thereon in the manner described in said patent. Table Ill is pivotally mounted on a shaft l2 suitably supported in side frames (not shown), and back tension plate H may be secured to a member l3 slidably mounted on table Ill in the manner described in said Patent 2,385,706. An adjustable connecting rod I4 is pivoted to 2. lug I 6 on the under side of lifter table l0 and pivotally connected to the free end of a cam lever l8 loosely mounted on a, shaft 20 suitably supported in the side frames (not shown). A cam follower 22 is rotatably mounted on a stud 24 projecting from the side of cam lever I8. Cam follower 22 engages a cam 25 which is mounted on a main.

cam shaft 28 suitably journaled in the side frames (not shown) and driven from a suitable source of power (not shown). A tension spring 30 attached at one end to a pin 32 projecting.

from cam lever [B and at the other end to one of the side frames (not shown) maintains cam follower 22 against cam 26. Cam 26 thus imparts an oscillating motion to cam lever H) which in turn transmits this motion to lifter table II) through connecting rod I4 in timed relation to the other parts of the machine.

The lifter table II) is normally maintained in an inclined position aligned with an inclined infeed runway I5 (Fig. 1) over which the loaves L are advanced into position to be delivered to table II) by pusher plate I1 projecting through a slot I9 in runway I5. The pusher plates I! are attached to an intermittently moving conveyor chain 2| of well known construction, wherefore further description thereof isdeemed unnecessary. One side of each loaf L slides along a guide plate 23 adjustably mounted on runway I5. Guide plate 23 has a suitable cut-out (not shown) to allow passage of a reciprocating pusher plate 25 which pushes loaf L from runway I5 in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, and on to lifter table II). Pusher plate 25 is affixed to the end of a rod 25a slidably supported in brackets 21 which are aflixed to cross bars 29 suitably attached to the side frames (not shown) A sleeve 3| is adjustably secured on rod 25a. A link 33 attached to a stud 35 protruding from sleeve 3| is connected to a lever 31 to operate the pusher plate in a manner which will be presently described. Lever 31 is fulcrumed on a shaft 39 and receives its motion from cam lever 4| through connecting rod 43. Cam lever 4| is pivoted on a shaft 45 and has a cam follower 41 mounted on a stud 49 projecting from the end of said cam lever. Cam follower 41 engages a cam track formed on the periphery of a cam 5.| which is also mounted on main cam shaft 28. A tension spring 53 is employed to maintain the cam follower 41 against cam 5|, and is anchored at one end to a pin 56 on lever 31 and at its other. end to one of the side frames (not shown).

A lap roller 34 is supported in the ends of arms 36 attached to shaft 38 suitably supported in side frames (not shown). Arms 36 are actuated by a connecting rod 40 pivotally connected to lug 42 on the under side of one of the arms 36 and pivotally connected to a cam lever 44. Shaft 28 is also the fulcrum for cam lever 44 which has projecting from its side a stud 46 on which is mounted a cam follower 48. Cam 50 mounted on main cam shaft 28 is engaged by cam follower 48 which is held against cam 50 by a tension spring 52 attached at one end to a pin 54 protruding from cam lever 44 and at its other end to the side frame (not shown).

The web of wrapping material W is supplied to the machine from a roll R (Fig. l) suitably mounted between the side frames (not shown). The web W passes under a continuously rotating feed roller 58, over a guide roller 68 and under a floating roller 62 to' another roller 64. Further description of the rolls 58, 60 and 62 is deemed unnecessary since their construction is fully de scribed in Gwinn Patent 1,626,409. The web W then passes along the top of plates 66 and 68 to a pair of guide rollers 'II) so that its leading end hangs freely behind loaf L and between runway I5 and lifter table ID. The web of wrapping material W has suitable indicia, such as the spots indicated in Fig. 1, printed thereon at predetermined intervals to actuate a photo-electric cell .mon shaft I08.

Photo-electric cell unit I2 is of conventional construction and is located directly over the path of the printed spots on web W. Unit I2 is pro vided with a housing I6 having an opening in its bottom through which a beam of light is projected from an incandescent lamp 1! through a set of lenses I8 on to the web W. The light refiected from web W inpinges on a photoelectric cell 19 of conventional construction. The printed spots are spaced at equal distances along the web corresponding to the girth of an average loaf plus the desired overlap of the edges of the wrapper.

Photoelectric cell I9 is connected by suitable electrical wiring to an amplifier of conventional construction which is connected in a manner hereinafter described, to a solenoid 8I supported by a bracket 82 secured to the under side of table I4. An extension 84 of the solenoid armature is slidably supported in a bracket 86 also fastened on the under side of table I4. A compression spring 88 encircles extension 84 with one end thereof seated against solenoid 8| and its other end pushing against a collar aflixed to extension 84 and thereby tending to hold said extension 84 in a predetermined position. The

extension 84 at its free .end'is provided with a forked portion 90 which carries a pin 92 engaging with a vertical slot 94 formed inthe upper end of pawl 96. A shaft 98 held by brackets I00 fastened to the under side of table I4 passes through a hole in the pawl 96 whereby the latter is supported directly above a ratchet I 8-2 with which it engages when the solenoid 8| is energized.

The amplifier 8|) and the incandescent lamp 11 are connected to the supply lines 9| which are connected to a suitable source of electricity. The amplifier BI) is also connected to the winding 93 of a relay of conventional construction which is adapted when energized to close a hold-in relay 99 of conventional construction and establish a circuit through the solenoid 8| and a limit switch I42 in a manner which will be hereinafter described. The winding of the relay 99 is connected in this circuit to be energized and thereby close the contacts 91 and 91a thereof to establish a separate circuit through the solenoid 8| and limit switch I 90 in a manner also to be described hereinafter. The limit switch I90 is mounted on a back stop plate I 9| secured to plate 68 and is normally closed to complete a circuit through solenoid 8| when the contacts 91 and 91a are closed. When a loaf L is advanced toward the lifter table I0 by pusher plate 25 it engages and opens the limit switch I90 whereby the solenoid 8| will be deenergized if the limit switch I42 is also open.

Ratchet I02 is provided with a rearwardly pro- ;jecting arm I03 on which is pivoted one end of a roller I04 extending horizontally across and beyond the full width of the web W. The other end of roller I 04 is pivoted in an arm I06 (Fig. 3). Arm I86 and ratchet I02 are secured on a com- There is loosely mounted on shaft I08 an arm I I 0 having 2. lug in which a pin H2 is fastened. Arm I I0 is positioned directly beside ratchet I22 so that pin I I2 extends underneath the arm I03 of said ratchet. One end of 'a spring H4 is attached to a pin II6 projecting from the arm I83 of ratchet I82, and its other end is anchored to a pin I I8 in arm I I0. Spring |I4 serves a twofold purpose. Spring |I4 holds the arm I 03 against projecting pin I I2, and when pawl 96 is in engagement with ratchet I02 to hold arm I03 stationary, spring I I4 stretches and arm H0 is thereby allowed to oscillate. The oscillating motion of arm I I0 is produced by a cam lever I through a connecting rod I22. A shaft I24 is the fulcrum for the cam lever I20 which is provided with a cam follower I26 engaging a cam I32. Cam follower I26 is pivoted on a stud I28 projecting from a lug I39 of cam lever I29 and is held against cam I32 by a tension spring I34 which is anchored at one end to a pin I36 projecting from the side of cam lever I20 and i fastened at its other end to the side frame (not shown). Cam I32 is mounted on main cam shaft 28 and is provided with a circular periphery. A cam segment I32a is adjustably secured to cam 532 and has a portion adapted to engage cam roller I20 to operate arm IIO. The adjustment of segment I32a serves a purpose which will be hereinafter described.

A pair of rollers I46 are suitably mounted on the side frames (not shown) in the space between the adjoining ends of plates 66 and 68. These rollers I46 are spaced a sufficient distance apart to allow the roller I04 to move downwardly therebetween while retracting the web W as will be hereinafter described. I

In the operation of the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the loaf L is pushed in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. l by the reciprocating pusher plate 25. This motion is derived from cam 5| in the manner previously described. As the loaf is Pushed on to lifter table I0, it presses the web W against the back tension plate II while the latter is displaced rearwardly and the top tension plate Ifla wipes the wrapping material over the top of the loaf. The loaf is thus partially enwrapped in the portion of web W draped in its path. Cam 26 then actuates cam lever I8 and through connecting rod I4 raises lifter table I0 to the level of table I4 as shown in Fig. 3. While back tension plate I I is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, it is omitted in Fig. 3 for the sake of clarity. At the same time and by reason of the upward motion of said lifter table the web is pulled over plates 66 and 68. Lap roller 34 through the action of cam 50 upon cam lever 44 and connecting rod previously described moves downward to the position shown in Fig. 3. During this motion of lap roller 7 34 more of the web W is drawn off the feed roll R and through the machine and thereby overfed by an amount greater than the distance between adjoining printed spots on web W until the printed spot on the portion of web W immediately behind the portion thereof wrapped about loaf L reaches a position beyond the photoelectric cell I2, as shown in Fig. 1. At this point a clamping arm I48 afiixed to a shaft I50 mounted in the side frames (not shown) is operated by a suitable cam (not shown). Clamping arm I48 is operated to move in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 1 and clamp the web of wrapping material W against plate 68 and thus prevent drawing of any further length or" said web from roll R. Clamping arm I48 also serves the purpose of holding the web of material W taut while a knife I38, which is supported on pivoted arms I39, is actuated in timed relationship through a suitable cam (not shown) to cut the web W. The wrapping material W is pinched against the edge of the lifter table I0 by suitable mechanism such as shown in my Patent 2,385,706 while the lap roller 34 moves downwardly and the knife I38 severs the required length of wrapping material from web W. Knife 6 I38 is operated by mechanism such as shownin my Patent 2,385,706.

A set of fingers I40 on conveyor chains of conventional construction (not shown) similar to those shown in the Schmitt Patent 1,851,295 then push the enveloped loaf L in the direction of the arrow through suitable side folder plates (not shown) and on to the stationary table 14. The web W then falls to its original draped position shown in Fig. 1 and lifter table I0 and lap roller '34 return to their original positions illustrated in Fig. 1.

One terminal of limit'switch I42 of conventional construction is connected to one of the supply lines 9I. The other terminal of switch I42 is connected to the solenoid 8| and the winding 99 of hold-in relay 9? which are connected in parallel. Switch I 42 has a spring contact I43 and is supported on bracket I 44 attached to the under side oftable 74. Spring contact I43 is normally held open by the pressure of arm I06 against the spring contact I43 when said arm is in its uppermost position. This spring contact I43 is closed when ratchet arm I03 with arm I06 through shaft I98 is moved in a downward direction indicated by the arrow in Figs. 1 and 3. Therefore, if relay 95 is energized, the hold-in relay 9'! will be closed and solenoid 8| will be energized. When the beam of light from lamp 'I'I strikes a printed spot on web W while the same is being retracted over the plate 63, the intensity of the light reflected on to photoelectric cell 19 is thus diminished and the passage of electric current from cell I9 to the amplifier is materially decreased or interrupted. This decrease in current flowing from cell E9 permits sufiicientcurrent to flow through amplifier into winding 93 to close relay 95-and thereby energize solenoid stop the retraction of web W. I

The downward motionof arm I03 is produced when the engagement of cam follower I26 with cam segment I320. thereby actuates cam lever I20 and through connecting rod I22 oscillates arm I I0. The tension of spring I I4 pulls ratchet arm I03 downwardly with lever II 0 wherefore the roller I04 on the end of said ratchet arm I02 will i and cause pawl 96 to engage ratchet I02 and engage with web W and draw it into the space between rollers I45. Inasmuch as the web W is held immovable at one section by clamp I48 its leading end is retracted until the printed spot thereon impinges the beam of light projected through the opening in the bottom of its photoelectric cell unit I2. When this spot reaches the beam of light the solenoid 8I is thereby energized and its armature extension 34 is displaced sufficiently to cause pawl 96 to engage ratchet I02 and thus stop the motion of ratchet arm I93 and roller I04 and halt the retraction of web W.

The arm I93 is then moved upwardly by the pin H2 on the oscillating arm IIO whereby the limit switch I42 is closed. The limit switch I remains open, however, and the solenoid BI remains energized until the limit switch I90 is opened. If a loaf L is then moved towards the lifter table 30 by the pusher plate 25, the limit switch E90 will be opened and the solenoid ill will be deenergized. Therefore the pawl 96 will be disengaged from ratchet I02 to permit the arm I03 to move downwardly with roll I04 and.

retract web W following the severance of the portion thereof folded about the girth of loaf L. If there is no loaf in position to be advanced by pusher plate 25 against limit switch I90,- the circuit through the latter from solenoid 8| will remain closed. Thus pawl 96 will remain engaged with ratchet I02 and the arm I03 will not be able to move downwardly with roll I04 when arm IIO is operated by the connecting rod I22. Accordingly the web W will not be displaced if no loaf is delivered to thelifter table II. If the web W were retracted by roll I04 when no loaf is delivered to lifter table I0, web W would no longer be in the position required to position the printed matter on the top of the loaf.

A clamp I60 pivoted on a stationary shaft I62 has an upright extension I64 provided with an elongated slot engaging a pin I66 on the armature I68 of a solenoid I10. Solenoid I is supported in a bracket I12 secured to table 14. A compression spring I14 is seated against the solenoid I10 and engages a shoulder on armature I68 to normally maintain arm I60 out of contact with the web W. The solenoid I1! is connected to the power lines 9| through the relay 9! and switch I42. Therefore solenoid I10 will be energized when the relay 99 is'closed during the retraction of web W upon the interception of the beam of light by the printed spot on the web.

Upon energization of solenoid I10 the clamp I60 presses web W against plate 68. If the web W were not pressed by clamp I60 the loop formed in web W during the descent of roller I04 might straighten out when roller I04 is raised by arm I03 and affect the position of the leading end of web W. The leading end of the web W will therefore be properly positioned relative to the loaf L about whose girth it is folded during delivery of loaf L to lifter table I0, to cause the printed portion of web W to be disposed on the top of loaf L. Clamp I48 then releases web W, arm I03 is returned to its normal uppermost position whereby arm I06 will be pressed against spring I43 and thereby break the circuit through microswitch I42 and deenergize solenoid 8|. The pawl 96 will thus be moved out of engagement withratchet I02 and the machine is ready to repeat its cycle.

The web W will be advanced by equal increments in successive cycles corresponding to the distance between the printed spots thereon, but the length of the wrapper severed therefrom will vary in accordance with the girth of the loaf to which the wrapper is applied. If a loaf having a girth greater than an average size loaf is enfolded in the leading end of the web W, a greater length of wrapping material will be required to enfold the article in accordance with the increased girth of the loaf. Therefore the distance from the leading end of the wrapper to the line across which it is cut by knife I38 will be greater than in the case of an average size loaf, and the distance from the line of cut to the next printed spot will be shorter. However due to the retraction of web W by roll I04 until the printed spot is registered with the beam of light projected through the bottom of the photoelectric cell unit 12, the end of the web behind this line of cut will be positioned slightly higher relative to the path of the next loaf L delivered to the lifter table. Accordingly the underlap of the wrapper on the next loaf will be sufficiently smaller to maintain each printed panel or other printed matter, which is located in a predetermined relationship to a printed spot as illustrated in Fig. 4, in a predetermined position on the top or other face of the loaf about which it is folded, as shown in Fig. 3.

If the next loaf has a girth smaller than' an average size loaf, less wrapping material will be required to enfold the article and the distance from the leading end of the portion of the web W folded about this loaf to the line of cut will be shorter. Accordingly the distance from the line of cut to the next printed spot on web W, when the same is registered with the beam of light projected through the bottom of the photoelectric cell unit 12 during the retraction of the web, will be greater. Therefore the leading end of the web will be slightly lower relative to the path of the next loaf delivered to the lifter table and the underlap of the wrapper on this next loaf will be sufiiciently greater to maintain the printed panel in the desired position on the top or other face of the loaf.

By adjusting the cam segment I 32a the time at which the web W is retracted may be varied as required by differences in the widths of loaves delivered to table I0 by pusher 25. If loaves of wider width are to be handled, then the time of retraction of the web W is advanced by adjustment of cam segment I32a to prevent the loaf engaging thehanging end of the web before the retraction thereof is completed.

Figs. 2 and 4 illustrate another embodiment of the invention wherein the principle of underfeeding of the web of wrapping material W is employed to obtain the desired result. The machine is of the same general design and construction as that described above, including a lifter table 2I0 pivoted on a shaft 2I2 and an infeed runway 2I5 having pusher plates 2I1 projecting through a slot 2I9 in runway 2I5 and propelled by an intermittently moving conveyor chain 22I. A guide plate 223 has a slot (not shown) through which a pusher plate 225 is reciprocated to push a loaf L in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2. Said pusher plate 225 is, as previously described, attached to the end of a rod 225a which is actuated by lever arm 236a pivoting on shaft 239 and through connecting link 233 attached to stud 235 in the side of sleeve 23I which is adjustably mounted on rod 225a. Brackets 221 held by cross bars 229 slidably support rod 225a. A cam as previously disclosed actuates lever arm 231. There is also provided a lap roller 234 which is supported between arms 236 aflixed to shaft 238 and oscillated from a suitable cam as disclosed above.

In addition to these various operating mechanisms which correspond to and are similar to mechanisms described in connection with Figs. 1 and 3, a lever arm 231 is fastened to shaft 238 so that the oscillating motion of lap roller 234 and arms 236 imparts a similar motion to lever 231 for the purpose of actuating a tripping device hereinafter described.

The web of wrapping material W is supplied to the machine from roll R. Said web material has spots printed upon its surface at predetermined intervals and in predetermined relationship with the printed matter thereon. The web W passes through the machine under a con stantly rotating roller 256, over a guide roller 260 and under a floating roller 262 which constitute parts of the device described in Gwinn Patent 1,626,409. From there the web W passes over another roller 264 and across the top of plates 266 and 268, and thence between a pair of guide rollers 210 and hangs freely across the path of the loaf L and between lifter table 2I0 and infeed runway 2I5.

This embodiment of the invention is also provided with a photoelectric cell unit 212 adjustably mounted by a thumb screw 218 on a bracket 216 afiixed to the bottom of table 214, Photoelectric cell unit 212 is similar in construction to the photoelectric cell unit 12 and is similarly mounted directly above the path'of travel of the printed spots on web W. Therefore the spots on web W serve to interrupt or diminish the reflection of the light focused thereon from the light source of the cell unit 212 on to the photoelectric cell 230 thereof sufliciently to operate a solenoid 332 in a manner which will now be described. The photoelectric cell 200 is connected to an amplifier 285 of conventional construction which is connected to the winding 282 of a relay 283 which is adapted when energized to close the hold-in relay 201. The amplifier 285 is connected to the power lines 2 80, and the circuits which are closed by relays 283 and 281 are connected in parallel to one of the-power lines 286 and to one of the terminals of the solenoid 302. The other terminal thereof is connected in parallel to the winding 288 of relay 231 and a terminal of a make-and-break switch 303. Switch 303 is supported on a bracket 305 secured to table 214 and may be similar in construction to switch I42. The other terminal of switch 303 is connected to one of the power lines 286. The relay 283 will be closed when a printed spot on web W intercepts the beam of light projected from photoelectric cell unit 212, and thus the relay 281 will be closed and the solenoid 302 will be energized if switch 303 is closed. A stud 309 secured in a lug 311 of a locking arm 326 hereinafter described, normally engages switch 303 and breaks the circuit through'switch 303 to maintain solenoid302 deenergized.

Solenoid 302 is supported in a bracket 30 attached to the bottom of table 214. Solenoid 302 has extending downwardly therefrom an armature 304 whose free end is slotted so that it straddles lever 306 to which itis connected by a pin 301. Lever 306 is fixed to a shaft 308 suitably mounted in the side frames 316. The

free end of said lever arm 303 is bifurcated asshown in Fig. 4 and a roller 3! is rotatabh mounted therein. Between plates 266 and 208, directly below roller 3I0, is a second roller 3l2 fastened to a shaft 314 which is suitably sup ported in side frames 3| 3. Said second roller 312- is so placed that its periphery. is tangent to the section of web W which extends between:

rollers 310' and 3l2. A sprocket 318. secured .to shaft 3|4 is continuously driven from another sprocket 320 by'a sprocket chain 322.- Sprocket 320 is attached to a shaft 28 corresponding to the main cam shaft shown in Figs. '1 and 3. The friction of the continuously driven roller 312 against the under side of web. W is insufficient to. cause said web to feedthrough the machine. Theweight of roller 3l0 against the top of webv is supported by'bra'ck'ets 330 fastened to the bot tom of table 214. These locking arms 320 and 324 are normally in the locked position shown in full lines in Fig; 2 and thereby hold roller 3l'0 out of contact with web W. Thus they allow the continuously rotating roller 3I2" to' revolve without feeding the *web w. There' s' also loosely mounted upon shaft 320a bell crank shaft 10 lever 332. One endof said bell crank lever 332 is connected by a rod 239 to the lever 231 previously described from which it is actuated.

Projecting from the other end of the lever 332 is a pin 338 which, when moved downwardly in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2) contacts the side of locking arm 326. This motion of pin 338 causes locking arm 326 to become disengaged from locking arm 324 whereby lever 306 drops and roller 3m presses the web W against the continuously driven roller 3l2, as indicated by the dotted positions thereof in Fig, 2. Arm 306 and roller 3H1 remain in this position so that the web W will be fed by roller 3|2 until the solenoid armature 304 raises'roller 3! off web W when solenoid 302 is energized.

Inasmuch as locking arm 324 and lever 306 are fastened to the same shaft 300, the raising of lever 30$"will simultaneously lower locking arm 324 so thatit will'lock arm 326 in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 when lap roller 234' returns to the position shown in Fig. 2 It will be noted that pin 3320; on bell crank lever 332 travels freely through a predeterminedarc before tripping locking arm 326. This arrangement is provided for the purpose of allowing lap roller 234 to travel through the greater part of its downward motion before tripping locking arm 326. The tripping action takes place during the last few inches of downward travel of lap roller 234 and thus prevents feeding of web W by rollers 310 and M2 while it'is being drawn through the machine by lap ron r 234. I The operation of this modified embodiment of the invention is as follows I The reciprocating pusher plate 225 on rod 225111 is moved forwardly in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2) by the action of lever 231 through link 233. Loaf L is thereby pushed on to lifter table 210 and partially enwrapped in the section of web W draped in its path. As previously described the lifter table rises together with partially enwrapped loaf L to the level of table 214. This motion of the lifter table draws an additional length of web W through the machine from roll R. Lap roller 234 then moves downwardly and draws an additional length of the web W through the machine until the printed spot reaches a predetermined underfed position just in front of the photoelectric cell'umt 212, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Clamping arm I48 fastened on shaft I50 then moves downwardly against web W to hold it while knife 338, which. is similarv to the knife I38 shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and similarly actuated. cuts the required-length of wrapper from the web. The loop formed in the web W intermediate the loaf L and rollers 210 during the downward movement of lap roller 234 is severed by knife 330 whereby the freeend of web W is draped across the path of another loaf L brought into position on infee'drun'way 2 l 5. During the downward motion of lap roller 234; shaft 238" swings the lever 23.1 in the direction of the arrowto the dotted position shown in Fig. 2. Connecting" rod 239 is thereby moved to turn lever 332' about shaft 328 counter-clockwise innthe direction of the arrow, and pin 338. on lever 332, after traveling through a predetermined arc, trips weighted locking arm. 326. This operation frees lockin arm 320' and allows arm 303'to drop mum-.310 against,

web W and press against the continuously revolv ing roller3'l2. The weight'of'roller 310 thereby causes sufficient friction to'feed web W,.through. the machine in the" direction ofthe' arrow; Figl zg until the spot thereonreaches'thebeam of'light 1 1 projected through the bottom of photoelectric cell unit 212.

When the arm 326 is tripped as previously described, the stud 309 is disengaged from the switch 303 and the circuit through the solenoid 302 will be completed when the spot on web W reaches said beam of light. The spot thus decreases the amount of light reflected on the photoelectric cell 280 and permits closing of relay 283 by current flowing from the amplifier 285 through the winding 282. 'Thus the relay 28"! will be closed and the solenoid 302 will be energized to draw armature 304 upwardly and raise lever 306 with roller 3I0. This relieves the friction of Web W against roller 3I2 and stops the feeding of said web through the machine. The wrapping material is now in its predetermined position for correctly wrapping the next loaf L.

In the meantime a 'pair of intermittently moving fingers 340, similar to the fingers I40 previously described have already pushed the wrapped loaf from lifter table 2I0 on to table .214. The lifter table is then returned to its initial position, Fig. 2. Lap roller 234 having also been returned to its initial position, the machine is ready to repeat its cycle.

The distance between the printed spots on the web W corresponds to the girth of an average bread loaf or other article to be wrapped plus the required overlap of the longitudinal edges of the wrapper. If a loaf having a girthgreater than an average size loaf is enfolded in the leading end of the web W a greater length of wrapping material will be required to enfold the girth of the loaf. Therefore the distance from the leading end of the wrapper to the line across which it is cut by knife 338 will be greater than in the case of an average size loaf. Moreover the leading end of the web W behind this line of cut will be positioned, when the next spot is registered with the beam of light projected through the bottom of the photoelectric cell unit 213, slightly higher relative to the path of the next loaf L delivered to the lifter table. Accordingly the underlap of the leading end of the web W on the next loaf will be sufliciently smaller to maintain the printed panel or other printed matter in a predetermined position on the top or other face of the loaf about which it is folded.

If the next loaf has a girth smaller than an average size loaf, less wrapping material will be required during the enfoldment of the loaf therein and the distance from the leading end thereof to the line of cut will be shorter. Accordingly the distance from the line of cut to the next printed spot on web W, when the same is reg istered with the beam of light projected through the bottom of the photoelectric cell unit 213, will be greater. Therefore the leading end of the web W will be slightly lower relative to the path of the next loaf delivered t the lifter table and the underlap of said leading end on the bottom of this next loaf will be sufliciently greater to maintain the printed panel in the desired position on the top or other face of the loaf.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the web registering device of Figs. 1 and 3 is illustrated in combination with mechanism for adjusting the position of the leading end of the web of wrapping material to compensate for variations in the height of the bread loaf or other article to be wrapped. Therefore no detailed description of the construction of the web registering device is needed. It will be sufficient to explain the coaction of the web adjust- 12 ing mechanism with the parts of the web registering device shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

After a Wrapper has been severed from the web W of wrapping material following the enfoldment of an article in its leading end, it is retracted across the table 68 until the printed spot is registered with the beam of light'projected through the bottom of the photoelectric cell unit 72. The retraction of the web W is performed in the manner previously described in connection with Figs. 1 and 3 by a roller I04 supported by an arm I03 of ratchet I02 and an arm (not shown) similar to arm I06 shown in Fig. 3. The ratchet I02 (Fig. 5) is loosely mounted on shaft I08 and arm I03 is connected by a tension spring II 4 to an arm IIO loosely mounted on shaft I08, the tension of the spring normally maintaining the arm I03 against a pin II2 on arm H0. The arm H0 is oscillated by mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 3 to move the roller I04 downwardly with the underlying section of web W between rollers I46 located between the adjoining ends of tables 66 and 68, until the pawl 96 supported on frames I00 is operated by the solenoid armature extension 84 to engage the ratchet I02. The manner in which the solenoid is energized, when the printed spot reaches the photoelectric cell unit I2, to operate the armature extension 84 has been fully described in connection with Figs. 1 and 3.

Following is a description of the mechanism for varying the position of the leading end of the web in accordance with differences in the height of the loaf L. A U-shaped bracket 59 supports a pair of guide rollers I0 between which the leading end of the web W is threaded. The lower roller I0 is mounted on bracket 59, and on lugs 6| of bracket 59 are pivoted arms 63 which support the upper roller I0.

The bracket 59 is pivoted on studs 65 secured in a bracket 61 fastened to the bottom of table 68. Bracket 59 is provided with lugs 69 carrying stop screws 'II arranged to engage stops 13 on table 68 and thereby limit the downward movement of bracket 59. On a stud 83 secured in the bottom of bracket 59 is pivoted a feeler 81, the stud 83 being provided with a cross pin IOI on which the lugs 89 of feeler 81 are pivotally mounted.

The loaf L is advanced in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6 by the flights I'I into position to be delivered to the lifter table (not shown) by the pusher 25. During this movement of loaf L its top face will engage the feeler 8'! and thereby swing the bracket 59 upwardly to a position determined by the height of loaf L. Therefore the leading end of web W will be raised relative to loaf L to cause the printed matter on the web W to appear-in the desired position-0n the top face of loaf L despite variations in the height of the same. The leading end of web W is maintained in this position by rollers 10 until the loaf L is delivered to the lifter table by pusher 25 which is supported in a bracket 21 mounted on a rod 29.

The leading end of the web W will thereby be folded about the girth of the loaf L and the leading edge of the web will be wiped under the bottom of the loaf to provide the required amount of underlap for positioning the printed matter in the required position on the top face of the loaf. The enfoldment of the loaf in the leadmg end of the web W is completed by a lap roller (not shown), which has been fully described in Figs. 1 and 3, and the portion of the web W enmeans prior to the enfoldment of the next article in the leading end of said web, and said mechanism including a source of light for projecting a beam of light upon said Web, a photoelectric cell arranged in the path of the light reflected from said web and responsive to variations in the intensity of the reflected light created when one of said indicia encounters the light beam, and a device controlled by said photoelectric cell for feeding the web toward said folding means after severance of the web until the beam of light impinges on one of the indicia whereby the forward movement of the web will be stopped and the leading end thereof will be located with the leading indicia thereon in a predetermined position relative to the folding means.

'7. In a wrapping machine having a source of supply of continuous web wrapping material provided with a series of equally spaced printed panels, the combination with means for circumferentially wrapping the leading end of said continuous web about an article whereby the length of the material wrapped about the article varies in accordance with variations in the girth of the article, of a web registering mechanism for automatically varying the position of the leading end of the web with respect to said wrapping means prior to the wrapping of the next article in the leading end of the web to register the printed panel in predetermined position on the article about whichthe web is to be wrapped, said web registering mechanism including a device for determining the height of articles delivered to said folding means and retracting said web in accordance with variations in the height of the article to position the leading end of the web in the proper position to register the printed label or printed matter in a predetermined position upon the article about which the leading end of said web is folded by said folding means.

8. Web registering mechanism for a continuous web of wrapping material having a regularly recurring pattern comprising a member for locating the leading end of said web into a predetermined position for enfoldment of an article therein, means operative to locate said pattern relative to said member, said member being movable to vary the position of the leading end of said web relative to said article, a movable feeler adapted to engage the top of articles advanced into position to be enfolded in the leading end of said web and adapted to be displaced vertically by variations in the height of said articles, said feeler being connected to said member to displace said member in accordance with variations in the height of said articles whereby the position of the leading end of; said webwill be automatically adjusted relative to said article prior to the enfoldment of the article therein.

9. In a wrapping machine adapted to wrap articles varying substantially in girth and having a source of supply of continuous web wrapping material provided with a series of equally spaced printed panels and equally spaced printed indicia in predetermined relationship to said printed panels, the combination with a movable lifter table, of means for forwarding said articles one at a time on to said lifter table, mechanism for lifting said table after an article has been delivered thereto by said means, a back tension plate slidably mounted on said table and adapted to be displaced rearwardly by an article delivered to said table by said means, paper guiding means for supporting the free end of said web of material between said article and said tension plate to cause the wrapping material to be pressed against said back tension plate by the article and wrapped around the girth of said article as it is forwarded on to said table against said tension plate and said table is lifted, and thereby pull oif a length of wrapping material from said source which is measured by the girth of the article, a knife for severing the portion of the web of wrapping material wrapped about the girth of said article, and a web registering mechanism responsive to said printed indicia for locating the leading printed indicia on the web in a predetermined position and thereby varying the position of the leading edge of the web with respect to the article advanced on to the lifter table by said forwarding means.

10. In a wrapping machine adapted to wrap articles varying substantially in girth and having a source of supply of continuous web wrapping material provided with a series of equallyspaced printed panels and equally spaced printed indicia in predetermined relationship to said printed panels, the combination with a movable lifter table, of means for forwarding articles one at a time on to said lifter table, mechanism for lifting said table after an article has been delivered thereto by said means, paper guiding means for positioning the free end of said web of material in front of said article to cause the wrapping material to be wrapped around the girth of said article as it is forwarded on to said table, said paper guiding means including a member for drawing the material downwardly over the rear face of the article as it is elevated by said table whereby there is drawn off from said source of wrapping material a length of wrapping material greater than is required to enfold the girth of the article, a knife for'severing the portion of the web of wrapping material folded about the girth of said article, and a web registering device responsive to said printed indicia for retracting said web to locate the leading printed indicia thereon in a predetermined position and thereby automatically vary the position of the cut edge of said web with respect to the next article delivered to said table by said forwarding means.

11. In a wrapping machine adapted to wrap articles varying substantially in girth and having a source of supply of continuous web wrapping material provided with a series of equally spaced printed panels and equally spaced printed indicia in predetermined relationship to said printed panels, the combination with a movable lifter table, of means for forwarding articles one at a time on to said lifter table, mechanism for lifting said table after an article has been delivered thereto by said means, paper guiding means for positioning the free end of said web of material in front of said article to cause the wrapping material to be Wrapped around said article as it is forwarded on to said table, said paper guiding means including a member for drawing the material downwardly over the rear face of the article as it is elevated by said table, a knife for severing the portion of said web folded about the girth of said article, and a web registering device responsive to said indicia for feeding said Web forwardly to locate the leading printed indicia thereon in a predetermined position and thereby automatically vary the position of the cut edge of said web with respect to the next article delivered to said table by said forwarding means.

12. In a wrapping machine adapted to wrap articles varying substantially in girth and hav ing a source of supply of continuous web wrapping material provided with a series of equally spaced printed panels and equally spaced printed indicia in predetermined relationship to said printed panels, the combination with a movable lifter table, of means for forwarding articles one at a time on to said lifter table, mechanism for lifting said table after an article has been delivered thereto by said means, paper guiding means for positioning the free end of said Web of material in front of said article to cause the wrapping material to be Wrapped around said article as it is forwarded on to said table, said paper guiding means including a member for drawing the material downwardly over the rear face of the article as it is elevated by said table, a knife for severing the portion of said web folded about the girth of said article, and a web registering device responsive to said indicia for feeding said web forwardly to locate the leading printed indicia thereon in a predetermined position and thereby automatically vary the position of the cut edge of said Web with respect to the next article delivered to said table by said forwarding means, said web registering device including a roll overlying said web, a pivoted support whereon said roll is mounted, a latch for retaining said support in an elevated position with said roll, and means for disengaging said 18 latch from said support when the Web-drawing member of said paper guiding means approaches the lower limit of its downward movement.

13. In a wrapping machine with a support for guiding the leading end of a continuous web of wrapping material in front of articles of varying girths to be wrapped therein, of web registering mechanism automatically varying the position of the leading end of said web relative to said web guide support to locate a predetermined portion of said web in a predetermined position, and means operative to vary the position of said web guide support relative to the height of the article prior to its enfoldment in said web.

THORMOD JENSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,117,260 Sevigne Nov. 17, 1914 1,941,597 Cavagnaro Jan. 2, 1934 2,082,945 Ferenci 1 June 8, 1937 2,127,028 I-Iayssen Aug.16, 1938 2,188,871 Broekhuysen Jan. 30, 1940 2,283,097 Sandberg May 12, 194.2 2,346,194 Sjostrom Apr. 11, 1944 

